Dear Tyler,

Hi pumpkin! How are you doing on this Thursday afternoon? It has been a very busy day here for Mom. I was up at 7:45 am and I laid in bed for a bit to wake up and then I was up and doing all kinds of housework. I made the bed, gathered the garbage, broke down about 10 boxes, dusted, mopped the floors, vacuumed the floors, made something to eat, did those dishes and then came in to study. I was able to do Exam 4 today which I got a 93 on and I started Exam 5. I needed to stop because I was burnt out for the day and Mom has a bit of a headache. I think I was pretty productive though. I am so sorry that I didn't write to you yesterday. Time really got the best of me and I was busy yesterday as well. I was up early which I didn't get much sleep the previous night and I studied all day long. I submitted an exam yesterday as well. That one I got a B on. It was tough. I am happy with that grade. Then I immediately started on the next chapters and started the exam that I submitted earlier today. I was on a roll but then Aunt Donna called me and we chatted for about an hour. By the time I got off the phone with her it was time to get dinner going. I had all intentions of writing to you while dinner was cooking but then I started to chat with another friend and before I knew it dinner was done and I hadn't even finished everything plus the pups didn't get fed until 6 pm last night. After doing dishes I just wanted to sit down and do nothing. I watched TV and then went to bed. Grandpa called last night around 8:30 pm but he left a message saying that if I had called him on the home phone it would have done nothing because they had lost power. Mom wanted to call him back but all he had was his cell phone and I didn't want him to drain the battery so I didn't. I will call this evening to check in though. I haven't heard from Meme since Sunday so I will call her as well. Aunt Beck must be pretty busy these days because it has been 3 weeks since we have spoken. I know when her and Meme spoke last Sunday she said she was crazy busy these days. I am sure we will chat either tomorrow or next week some time. I will keep you posted as I know of things though. 
 Bob's daughter, Jennifer (my step sister) is now in the Police Academy for the next 16 weeks. She is there full time until the end of May. she will graduate on 5/24 from the academy and then start a new job at a police station being an officer. I am very proud of her. She had to leave her 2 girls with their Dad's for all this time. She will see them 1 day on the weekend for the next 16 weeks. I know she is having a tough time with it as I did when I only got to see you 1 day out of the week. I remember the minute I would leave the tears would start and I would cry all the way home. That 2 hour drive back was awful. I hated leaving you. I always wanted to just take you away with Mom. If only it was that easy. So many things that I feel guilty about when I know I shouldn't. I did all that I could and pushed myself more but there is always that voice in the back of my mind wondering if I ever did enough. Anyways.... Bob is excited and proud of his daughter. Mom is going to be a pen pal to her for the time she is away from her daughters. I will be writing to her this weekend. Mom will keep you posted on Jennifer as well. She can check in with us only on the weekends. Not much else is going on. Mark is crazy busy with work and just got assigned a new customer this morning. He will be busy with that for a couple weeks and then do that cutover for them. I am not sure where it is though. Mom is just cruising along in school. I now have 7 exams and 2 finals before I am done. My goal is by the end of the month I will be done! 
 It is already after 4 pm. This day has flown by. I need to prep dinner and then get things all set for the pups and I still need to take a shower because when I finished the housework I came right in to studying...lol. I will take one after dinner I guess or while dinner is cooking. Oh yeah... Ozzy is doing a bit better with the whole walking down the hallway thing. Still not where it was before but he is trying. Please continue to help him. Thank you my sweet precious son. Mom loves you so much. To the moon and back and all the way around the world. I miss you like crazy too. You will always be inside my heart, mind, body and soul. Forever you will be my hero and the wind beneath my wings. Mom will light your candle tonight and whisper to you later. Smile for me and I will smile for you. I will be back tomorrow with another letter to you. For now I need to get going to finish up all the things I need to do. Until tomorrow comes....good night and sweet dreams. Have fun tonight while Mom sleeps. Come visit me in my dreams if you can. Thank you.
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV

Dear Father in heaven, living source of all that is eternal in us, we come to you and plead with you to strengthen the gifts you have given us. Grant us the light of life in which we can walk in spite of the many burdens and uncertainties of our earthly life. Protect us from deception and disappointment. Strengthen our hope for your steadfast, firm, and eternal rule in us, in many others, and finally in all people. Amen.